News
Samen Sterk meeting on the theme of inclusivity
Although the martial arts world has always been colourful, that does not mean inclusivity takes care of itself. ‘Martial arts gyms can still take steps too,’ said VA director Farid Gamei this week at an evening organised by NOC*NSF (the Dutch Olympic Committee and Dutch Sports Federation) on diversity and inclusion. ‘We point this out, but not from a moralising position. We would rather make sports entrepreneurs aware of the opportunities.’
As part of the NOC*NSF campaign Onze Club Is Voor Iedereen (Our Club Is For Everyone), an evening was held in Amsterdam under the title Samen Sterk (Stronger Together), with table discussions, workshops and a panel discussion. Farid Gamei was invited to take part in the panel on behalf of the VA. He spoke with Guido Davio (director of Grassroots Sport at NOC*NSF), Henne van Es (Dutch Handball Association) and Sandra Doevendans (Amsterdam West city district) about practical experiences relating to the theme of the evening.
Gamei explained that martial arts, like all other organised sports, mainly faces the challenge of putting all its good intentions into practice. There is broad agreement on the principle that sport should be accessible and enjoyable for everyone. The question is how to make that happen. ‘That starts with looking in the mirror,’ according to Gamei. ‘Are we really as inclusive as we think? Martial arts are colourful, but of course there are more forms of variation than colour. Sexual orientation, for example, or age, or physical or mental disabilities. There is still something to be gained there.’
Gamei explained that it is precisely because there is something to be gained that the Nederlandse Vechtsportautoriteit (the Dutch Martial Arts Authority) has started working with the Onze Club Is Voor Iedereen campaign. ‘For instance, we publish a series of profiles on our website and in our newsletter about gyms that have made an extra effort on inclusivity. Gyms that teach people with a physical disability, young people with behavioural problems or older people with Parkinson’s disease. Always with the message that this not only serves a new audience and has social value, but also adds value for a sports business.’
‘These opportunities are a good way to start the conversation, but in the end it is mainly about the culture in your gym. The standards of conduct and rules of behaviour that apply in practice determine whether someone feels welcome and is safe. We pay a great deal of attention to this in our Keurmerk Vechtsportautoriteit (the Martial Arts Authority quality mark), which all martial arts gyms are required to hold. In that way we work on promoting inclusivity in a structured and lasting manner.’
See also:
Where martial arts are not yet inclusive, there are opportunities
Our martial arts gym is for everyone